Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 16:09:23 -0500
From: Steve Labinski (by way of Kevin Ivers)
Subject: LCR/TX PUSHES STATE BILL ON HATE CRIMES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Steve Labinski
Phone: 512-482-8064
March 14, 1999
Log Cabin/Texas Urges GOP Support of James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act
AUSTIN, TX -- The Log Cabin Republicans of Texas urged GOP lawmakers in
the Texas House of Representatives to support the James Byrd, Jr. Hate
Crimes Act, a comprehensive approach to punishing and preventing hate
crimes. The bill successfully passed out of the Judicial Affairs
Committee on Thursday on a 6-2 vote.
Under House rules, after a favorable recommendation from committee, the
bill goes to the Calendars committee to be scheduled for a vote by the
full House.
LCR/Texas President Steve Labinski said, "Texas clearly has a
significant problem with crimes motivated by prejudice. These crimes
shock the conscience of everyone. Our state has a long tradition of
enhancing the penalties of crimes designated as particularly heinous.
Hate crimes should be no exception."
HB 938 has almost 50 co-sponsors, including Republican members of the
House GOP leadership. The bill also provides for civil remedies and
allows for protective orders to keep perpetrators of hate crimes off
specified property. Property crimes are documented as the most frequent
kind of hate crime.
The Texas Family Association, a religious conservative organization with
strong ties to the Texas GOP and the Texas GOP platform testified on
Thursday that they would support the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Bill if
sexual orientation was removed from the bill. Sen. Drew Nixon (R,
Carthage) and Rep. Wayne Christian (R, Center), whose districts include
Jasper, Texas, have been reported in the Austin media as supporting the
bill only if sexual orientation is removed.
LCR/Texas President Labinski responded, "18% of all documented hate
crimes are committed against gays and lesbians. To single-out a group
one personally dislikes from legislation that protects people from hate
crimes is disingenuous. Frankly, that individual completely misses the
point of the purpose or need of hate crimes legislation."
Recently-passed Texas laws enhance the penalties on crimes committed
against children, in instances of stalking and certain capital
offences. "We need a hate crime law to prevent hate criminals from
becoming hate murderers," said Labinski.
The Log Cabin Republican of Texas has chapters in Austin, Dallas/Fort
Worth, Houston and San Antonio, and is part of a nation-wide federation
of grassroots organizations.
____________
(OPEN LETTER TO GOP STATE HOUSE MEMBERS)
March 14, 1999
Dear Republican House Member:
HB 938, the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Bill, recently passed out of the
House Judicial Affairs Committee, and will soon make it to the floor for
a vote. Please support the bill as passed out of committee.
I would like to address the following concerns regarding this
legislation:
1. HB 938 carves no special privileges for any group. All individuals
equally share the traits indentified in the bill. For example, every
individual is a member of a race. Every individual has a sexual
orientation. So, the bill protects any person who falls victim to a
crime motivated by prejudice on these universal categories.
2. HB 938 meets constitutional tests. The bill is drafted to track the
language of the Wisconsin hate-crimes law that the U.S. Supreme Court
has upheld as constitutional. Furthermore, the bill meets the tests of
equal protection in the Texas Constitution. The protected categories
specified in the bill are universal traits held by everyone. We are all
a member of a race. We all possess a sexual orientation. The bill does
not exclude anyone, nor does it provide any single group any 'special
rights'
3. HB 938 does not condone any particular lifestyle. We have laws at
the state and federal level that prohibit discrimination against
religion. This does not constitute an endorsement of any particular
denomination. Consequently, laws prohibiting discrimination on the
basis of sexual orientation does not constitute an endorsement. It
simply says that discrimination is wrong -- something we all can agree
on.
Please oppose any amendment to remove the sexual orientation category
from the bill. Under statistics collected by the federal Hate Crimes
Statistics Act of 1990, gays and lesbians are the second-largest target
of hate crimes in Texas, that is 18% of hate crimes.
As Republicans, we take a strong attitude against crime. Help enact
tough penalties against perpetrators of hate crimes by supporting the
committee substitute to HB 938 without amendments. If you have any
questions, feel free to call me at 512-467-9797.
Thank You,
Steve Labinski
President
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